Civilian airport for Jaffna?

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Feasibility studies for building an airport for civilian flights in the North are to be undertaken soon, said Security Forces Commander (North), Major General Lional Balagalle, at a meeting with Mr. S. Sri Baskaran, Chairman designate of the North Waligamam Pradeshiya Sabah. A proposal for an airport had been put forward by Mr. Sri Baskakaran.

At the meeting, it was also decided that displaced persons from North Waligamam will be resettled in the area in small groups, and that the operation will be completed before the end of this year.

Bunkers near paddy fields and those obstructing the flow of traffic will removed, he said.

Major General Balgalle also said that though a few hours of fishing was permitted off the coast west of Senthankulam up to Mathakal with the consent of Sri Lanka Navy, the time span was too short. Efforts would be made to increase the hours.

He said that two electricity generators were expected in Jaffna soon and that once three other generators, also expected shortly, arrive, electricity could be provided for the entire peninsula.

Tiles and asbestos sheets will be distributed to those who have applied for them.

Since, according to him, it is a security risk to allow residents of Waligamam North to return to their villages en masse, as the place is a high security zone with the Palaly base situated there, village level officers of the area will be permitted to examine the state of the houses and other buildings in Waligamam North and report to the owners and residents.

There will also be provision for devotees to go their temples or churches in the North Waligamam area, according to the Jaffna security forces commander .

Foreign experts are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka to locate and defuse buried landmines, said Major General Balagalle.

He said that he did not envisage any problem in reopening the Koppai - Kaithady Road. He told Mr. Sri Baskaran the matter will be addressed at once.